"Verizon" and "AT&T", the iPhone's "friends" try to establish their separate identities, with much difficulty. (Source: T-Mobile via YouTube)

"How do you tell them apart?" -- T-Mobile chick

T-Mobile
has been hooting and hollering about
its "4G" (actually 3.5, HSPA+) network for a long
time. While testing has shown it to be slower than true 4G networks like
Verizon's LTE or Sprint's WiMAX, T-Mobile does offer HSPA+ phones, something
that Verizon can't yet claim. So in terms of data
network speed, after Sprint, T-Mobile currently is the next best thing.

The carrier rubs in that fact with a pointed new commercial [video], which simultaneous disses the Apple
iPhone, AT&T, and Verizon. Clearly T-Mobile doesn't think users
should be impressed with the fact that the iPhone has come to Big Red.

The ad spot features the ever-popular T-Mobile chick (better known as Carly Foulkes,
a model also appearing in ads for Ralph Lauren Rugby line) poking fun at the
iPhone dude (a clear parody of Justin Long's character) and his eternal attempts
at being cool.

This time around the iPhone has brought two identical friends. One friend
is AT&T -- the other, the iPhone's new network
Verizon. T-Mobile's gal asks, "Who are your buddies?"

IPhone responds, "Oh that's AT&T, and that's Verizon?"

Verizon chimes in "Actually I'm Verizon."

And AT&T adds, "And I'm AT&T."

Indeed the two are the same actor, with everything the same, from his balding
head, to his stodgy suit. Everything that is, except for the tie.
AT&T's tie is, of course, blue, while Verizon's is red. The T-Mobile
lady, puzzled, asks, "How do you tell them apart? Does one of them
have nationwide 4G like me?"

IPhone mournfully replies, "Nope, I'm pretty much slow with either
one."
Well, it's true that the iPhone can't yet handle HSPA+ or LTE/WiMAX for the
matter. We're guessing it will get the upgrade to HSPA+ sometime this
summer, and maybe will see an LTE bump in summer 2012.

"When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song." -- Sony BMG attorney Jennifer Pariser